 Safety experts were busy answering all kinds of questions during the 12th annual Northern Minnesota Safety Conference today. Josh Peterson was there and found that new safety issues have come to the forefront. Creating safer and healthier workplaces was the objective for the day-long Northern Minnesota Safety Conference. This joint effort put together by the Minnesota Safety Council in Optivation provided valuable tools to local companies and businesses. It's a gathering of safety directors, HR directors, safety supervisors, folks who work in safety and their companies in the Bemidji area, along with a whole bunch of vendors to sit down and think a little bit, talk a little bit, learn a little bit about safety, try to refocus. Vendors such as Minnesota Base 3M shared how the safety products that they develop come from the needs of local businesses. They suggest something like we need a really robust anti-fog coating. We go back to the lab working with our engineers and chemists and scientists, develop those products based on feedback from our customers. The conference not only addressed basic workplace safety but trending issues such as alcohol and drug abuse as well as efforts to prevent violence in the workplace. People think that the only consequence to workplace violence is police or enforcement action is not. So it could mean better trained employees. It could be early recognition when people have problems. With issues of drug abuse and workplace violence becoming mainstream, speakers had the opportunity to talk about procedures and strategies that could be implemented in any sized workplace. Talk about the importance of how we need to come to work feeling well because my work affects my coworkers. People that are under the influence are 33% less productive. Through conferences like this, the hope is that employers learn to become more proactive and be prepared for any situation. In Bemidji, Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. The Minnesota Safety Council will host its largest safety and health conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center May 16th through the 18th. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.